I’ll Be Home for Christmas
By Paul NiedermeyerDecember 24, 2007
Santa came early in 1972. My older brother had taken a civilian job on a military base in Greenland. Out of the blue, he gave me his 1963 Corvair. It was my very first set of wheels. Instead of bracing myself for the thousand mile-long hitchhike from Iowa to Baltimore in freezing weather, I was driving home for Christmas in comfort. But there was a catch: Santa had deputized me. I had a present to deliver, and deliver I would, come hell or high snow.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 21 comments 
Hemi Love
By Paul NiedermeyerDecember 15, 2007
What eye-candy poster was pinned up on your bedroom wall when you were thirteen? A black Lamborghini Countach sprouting numerous spoilers? Farah Fawcett-Majors with blindingly-white teeth? Metallica? KISS? What I gazed lovingly upon-- whilst sprawled across my bed-- was a giant detailed cross-sectional drawing of a Chrysler hemi engine. Thus was the spell that the mythical engine had on me.
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Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | Nostalgia | 18 comments
MGA
By Paul NiedermeyerDecember 1, 2007
The pop rivets on the crudely fabricated rocker panels were a dead giveaway: tell-tales of ill health under the distraction of a box fresh $29.95 Earl Scheib paint job. I noticed the rivets as soon as the smarmy soon-to-be seller of the ’57 MGA pulled into the driveway. But I was 15, and not the intended victim. That would be my older brother, who was utterly blinded by lust as the late-summer sun sparkled on the curvaceous roadster. He was 19, and about to enter that unique form of parallel hell endemic to the ownership of a clapped-out rusty English car. His only consolation: unlike most self-inflicted drives to auto-hell, his would at least be fairly quick, and a one-way trip.
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 18 comments
Auto-Biography 27: Squaring the Circle
By Paul NiedermeyerJuly 28, 2007
Readers who’ve accompanied me on this long, strange trip-- from my automotive awakening to this, the final installment of my Auto-Biography-- may recall my earliest childhood memory: riding in a 1950’s VW Beetle in Austria. The bug was the automotive womb from which I sprang. I’ve carried the Volkswagen DNA ever since. Even as a freewheeling young adult, I was a loyal Volkswagonista. Eventually I strayed, looking for more space, speed, comfort and even prestige. But I’ve finally returned to my automotive happy place, reunited with my one true love.
Auto-Biography 27: Squaring the Circle editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 31 comments
Auto-Biography 26: There’s a Future in Your Ford
By Paul NiedermeyerJuly 21, 2007
Twenty years ago, I was a well-heeled young exec. One day, I decided to indulge in a four-wheeled “weekend toy.” Instead of a Dino or XK-E, I dropped $500 on a 1966 Ford F-100 pickup. Sure, I’d harbored fantasies about Ferraris and Jags for years. But I didn’t want to be saddled with an expensive toy that offered temporary or unreliable escape. My dream has always been about real freedom. The freedom to wake up in the morning, sniff the air and go… berry picking! Lumber hauling! The simple, rugged, frugal Ford represented my ideal life. And I knew it would get me there.
Auto-Biography 26: There’s a Future in Your Ford editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 20 comments
Auto-Biography 25: Gone Fishin’
By Paul NiedermeyerJuly 14, 2007
Five years ago, on a whim, I rented an RV and we headed for the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons. The late October weather was exquisite; we didn’t see a single cloud for the whole two weeks. And the scenery was stunningly, drop-dead awesome. Once again, my wife and I (and now our youngest son) were hooked on the freedom of the open road and self-contained camping. But steep prices and free-fall depreciation of new RV’s was off-putting. But the answer was waiting just down the street…
Auto-Biography 25: Gone Fishin’ editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 11 comments
Auto-Biography 24: Forester? I Just Met Her!
By Paul NiedermeyerJuly 7, 2007
Instead of holding down a “real” job and paying other professionals to maintain my lifestyle, I stay at home and do it all myself: rebuild old houses, deliver the children, grow our organic berries and fix the cars. One day, back in ’99, this shade-tree mechanic finally grew tired of wrestling with the Gordian knot of hoses and wires nestling underneath our fifteen-year-old Cherokee. When the Jeep’s headliner let go and draped me in rancid mouse fur, I’d had enough.
Auto-Biography 24: Forester? I Just Met Her! editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 27 comments
Auto-Biography 23: Caravan of Love
By Paul NiedermeyerJune 30, 2007
Unless you live under a highway, an empty box has no intrinsic value; it’s what’s inside that counts. The Dodge Grand Caravan we bought in 1992 was little more than a big dumb box on wheels. But by the time I got rid of it fifteen years later, I’d filled the Caravan with a lifetime of family memories.
Auto-Biography 23: Caravan of Love editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 23 comments
Auto-Biography 22: Bury My Jeep at Wounded Knee
By Paul NiedermeyerJune 23, 2007
If you’re looking for someone to blame for the whole yuppie-SUV fad, look no further. Back when I was bouncing over Rocky Mountain off-road trails in my VW bug, I sneered at actual Jeeps. And when I headed out across the desert in my Dodge van, I (almost) never missed having four-wheel drive. The moment we became city folks with kids, we just had to have a genuine 4X4 SUV.
Auto-Biography 22: Bury My Jeep at Wounded Knee editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 27 comments
Auto-Biography 21: Doing an E
By Paul NiedermeyerJune 16, 2007
In 1985, I started a Spanish language TV station. Having run a multi-lingual broadcast outlet for the world’s most famous guru, I was ready to rock and roll. There was only one minor detail: thirty million dollars. Fortunately, my partner and I found it. Unfortunately, we didn’t choose our sugar daddies carefully enough. It was a wild roller-coaster ride-- even if I did end back on the ground. At least I got a sharp set of wheels out of the deal.
Auto-Biography 21: Doing an E editorial continued »
Posted in Auto-biography | Editorials | 12 comments
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